3.1.4 The Full Wudu Described

When we want to pray, we must make wudu. Wudu requires an intention and some washing and some wiping.

In this unit:

Wudu removes minor hadath from the face, arms, head and feet.

Every body part in wudu can be washed (or wiped) 1, 2 or 3 times.

Wudu requires a niyyah.

Keywords

Niyyah

Fard

Sunnah

Hadath

1. Wash your hands while saying the niyyah for the sunnahs of wudu in your heart.

1. Wash your hands while saying the niyyah for the sunnahs of wudu in your heart.

Wash your hands all the way up to and including your wrist. You can wash your hands 1, 2 or 3 times; but 3 is best. You only need to say the niyyah once. All the parts of wudu can be washed 1, 2 or 3 times; but 3 is best.

2. Rinse your mouth.

2. Rinse your mouth.

Take a handful of water and put it in your mouth. Move the water around in your mouth, then spit it out. Don’t swallow!

3. Rinse your nose.

3. Rinse your nose.

Take a handful of water and gently sniff it into your nose. Don’t do it too hard or it will hurt.

4. Wash your face while saying your niyyah in your heart.

4. Wash your face while saying your niyyah in your heart.

Wash from just above your hairline to below your chin; and from one ear to the other. Make sure you get lots of water on your face. Don’t just wipe water on the sides of your face. The words of the intention are given in the

5. Wash your arms

5. Wash your arms

from your fingertips all the way to your elbow. Wash your elbows too. Make sure you wash with flowing water. Don’t just wipe your arms or it won’t be a proper wudu.

6. Wipe a part of your head.

6. Wipe a part of your head.

Wet your hand and wipe at least one hair; but it is better to wipe the
whole head. You can wipe your head 1, 2 or 3 times; but 3 is best.

7. Wipe the inside and outside of your ear

7. Wipe the inside and outside of your ear

8. Wash your feet

8. Wash your feet

…from the tips of your toes up to and including your ankles.

9. Do it all in that order.

9. Do it all in that order.

We will talk about how to fix a mistake if you forget one act or do it out of order.

Fard and Sunnah of Wudu

In the next section, you will learn that 6 of the acts of wudu are fard. All the rest of the acts are sunnah. The acts that are fard must be performed and they must be performed in order. You must never leave one of these acts. If you do forget one of them, or if you do it out of order, you will have to correct your mistake. We will learn how to correct mistakes in a later lesson, insha Allah.

The niyyah (intention) is the words you say in your heart to state what you are doing. Worships are not valid without niyyah.

In the niyyah, you must state what you are doing. If the act is fard, you must say so in your niyyah.